Abraxas: Horizon Information

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Garreg Mach Monastery

Garreg Mach Monastery is a large fortress where Sylvain attended the Officer's Academy with many other nobles and commoners alike, from all three kingdoms in Fodlan. He has many fond memories of the place and the times he spent here before war tore the three regions apart and pitted them against one another. So it is perhaps no surprise that when carving out a place where he felt safe and at home, it was here he thought of first. With the arrival of other companions from back home, this Horizon has become a shared space with Claude, Petra, Felix, and Hilda as well.

Their Horizon is a work in progress still, forming new rooms and sections with each visit there and time spent recreating them. In his early weeks here, visitors are most likely to find only the front section complete with other portions cordoned off, an armored knight standing guard and warning them away from those areas of the building. For now, feel free to explore anywhere on the first level, although the bridge Cathedral is still closed off. The second floor is also currently inaccessible with the exception of the library. And the entrance to the Abyss beneath the castle may be hidden somewhere, but it's not obvious to anyone who doesn't already know it's there.

Monastery Layout

First Floor
• A. Maketplace
• B. Entrance Hall
• C. Dining Hall
• D. Greenhouse
• E. Fishing Pond
• F. Dormitories
• G. Classrooms
• H. Training Grounds
• I. Reception Hall
• J. Stables
• K. Cathedral

Second Floor
• L. Audience Chamber
• M. Professors' Offices
• N. Infirmary
• O. Library

Entrance Hall and Marketplace

A marketplace with several merchant stalls graces the front entrance of the Monastery itself, set just outside the gates. Here, a few merchants can be found hawking simple wares, armor, weapons and other necessities. It's a simple place, but colorful and welcoming and resembles very much a simple medieval market.

Mounting the stone steps to the entry, one can find a gate and portcullis which is almost always open. A cheerful guard is always stationed here and will happily greet any visitors and engage in a bit of simple friendly chats, or perhaps gossip a bit about whatever he seems to think has been happening about the Monastery of late. Passing through the gate leads into the large Entrance Hall, which connects many of the wings off of the main building. Corridors to the Dining Hall, the Reception Hall and an exit to the Stables can be found here.

Dining Hall

The Dining Hall is directly adjacent to the Entrance Hall, through which residents of the monastery regularly eat meals at any time throughout the day. Long tables provide plenty of space for mingling during meals, or perhaps just a place to sit, gather, and socialize outside of class. A few servants can be found bustling here, around the kitchens or behind the counter to offer food to visiting guests. Meals differ from day to day, but the dishes found most often seem to be among those Sylvain favors, and those he knows his friends are particularly fond of.

Fishing Docks and Greenhouse

The Greenhouse hosts a variety of plants found from all over Fodlan. Inside, flowers and greenery from the exotic to the mundane can be found, as well as a large collection of herbs and vegetables, many of which are used in the meals prepared in the Dining Hall. Recently, more and more flora native to Abraxas has been spotted blossoming here as well, especially the Nightblooms and other vibrant flowers often seen in Nocwich.

The Docks extend out beside the Greenhouse and stretch partially into a canal that connects with those that travel through CLAUDE'S DOMAIN. A variety of fish can be found swimming in these waters, many of them native to Fodlan. Fishing equipment can be found at the start of the dock so that anyone that wishes to try their luck are welcome to! It's not uncommon to find stray cats and dogs wandering around the area hoping for a free meal or pats for being good boys and girls.

Dormitories

A two-floor facility that functions as a residence for students of the Officers Academy. Habitually, most of the commoners have rooms on the first floor and the nobles on the second, and the decorations of the rooms in each location reflect the divide to some extent. Those on the first floor are often simple and comfortable, although still very homey and welcoming, often with a bed, wardrobe, desk, and cupboards to store the occupant's supplies. The upper rooms, however, tend to be more richly furnished and vibrantly decorated - often with the house colors of the student residing within.

Sylvain's room is up on the second floor - the very last in the hall, in fact. Although these days, it appears slightly different than it had when he'd been a student here. It's still richly decorated in shades of blue but the bed is now a massive four-post affair with thick drapes that can be drawn closed about it. There's a thick and plush rug underfoot, and a stand for his armor and weapons in one corner. There's a large desk against one wall with a journal often left on its surface and the Blue Lions pennant hangs on the wall above it. A large bookshelf holds a collection of fables and novels and beside it is a large overstuffed chair and ottoman, the perfect place to comfortably curl up and read for a few hours. His room appears almost obsessively clean, which might surprise people who know him well, since he normally doesn't come across as the fastidious sort. There are large windows in the far wall that open up and overlook the greenhouse and fishing docks area.

Claude, Felix, and Hilda also have rooms on the second floor, decorated however they want them to be, while Petra's room currently remains on the first floor.

Courtyard and Classrooms

Stretching out between the Dormitories and the Reception Hall is a long lush length of Courtyard with well-maintained lawns, shrubberies and small trees. Hilda has spent some time building out the plant life and topiary in the courtyard. Several outdoor seating areas like benches and gazebos now dot the gardens. The gazebos are equipped with chairs and tables under them that look ready for tea at any time of the day.

The Classrooms stretch off these green grounds, connected by stone walkways and shaded beneath looping arches. Each House has their own primary classroom where they gather and study together and each chamber is decorated to reflect the House that occupies it.

The Sauna

The Saunas are located between the dormitories and the training grounds. Students and faculty of the Officer's Academy were encouraged to use it post-training or battles and it's particularly popular during the colder months.

The interior is all wood with low candlelight to help people relax (and/or forget the heat if they don't have high heat tolerance). There's the faint smell of cedar and eucalyptus in the air upon entering. The sauna features a large coal stove and water that can be poured over it to increase the heat. Wooden headrests are also provided for those that wish to lie down during their time in the sauna.

Before entering, the Sauna Boss encourages you to change into the provided sauna clothing, but towels are also provided if that's more comfortable for visitors.

Training Grounds

The Training Grounds is a place where knights and students alike come to hone their combat skills - often sparring against one another to improve their abilities. An open courtyard with the grounds made of hard-packed dirt, there's ample room for multiple people to practice without getting in anyone's way. The far side of the courtyard is lined with archery targets for ranged practice.

There are a variety of training weapons to be found here as well as targets, dummies and anything you can imagine that would come in handy for those looking to better themselves physically. While there are many practice weapons set out and ready on racks, there is an attached armory with a selection of real weapons, all sharpened and honed for battle, as well as a variety of armor in all makes and sizes - from heavy plate mail to much lighter leather sets.

Whenever Felix is in the Horizon, chances are he can often be found here.

The Stables

The Stable, on the far side of the Monastery, is a long building that houses the horses and pegasi frequently used by the students and knights who favor mounted combat. There's a green paddock behind them for the animals to graze and stretch their legs, as well as a riding ring with jumps and hurdles for riders to practice on.

Visitors stopping here will find around half a dozen horses stabled here, well looked after and most of them mild-mannered. Two large horses are set aside in an adjoining section of the stable, a large white gelding (Nova) and a black stallion (Erebus), both a little more temperamental and picky in who they allow to approach, unless you're with Sylvain himself. Or you come prepared to bribe them with treats. A dark brown stallion (Dorte) is also a recent addition to the horses. Corresponding armor for them is set up on a rack outside each of their roomy stalls, gleaming silver and ebony to match each steed.

The Aerie

The Aerie are two towers that stand above the stable housing half a dozen wyvern between them. Their arched windows are large enough to allow wyvern to launch to and from them with their riders. All the wyvern are relatively well-trained not to harm familiar faces (ie. Felix, Sylvain, Hilda, Claude, and Petra) but have varying temperaments. Much like their horse counterparts, be prepared to come bearing some kind of treat or gift (they like raw pieces of meat) in order to get on their good sides. Various armour and saddles are set up in their stalls.

Library and Offices

Numerous books and historical texts can be found in the Library on the Second Floor. This room is often used as a study space for members of the Officers Academy.

The instructors for the school each have Offices on the Second Floor as well, each one decorated to their preferences and according to their specialties. This includes an Infirmary and an office equipped for Crest study.

Reception Hall and Cathedral

The Reception Hall is a long, ornate chamber on the first floor of the main building, just off the Entrance Hall. This is where social events (such as the Ball during the Ethereal Moon) are held. It is often lined with benches and tables but sometimes these are cleared away to empty the massive space with ornate marble-tiled floor and large arching windows.

At the most rear point of the Monastery, connected to the remainder of Garreg Mach via a bridge, is the Cathedral where devout believers worship the goddess Sothis and the saints. The bridge itself is currently blocked off, disallowing any passage beyond the main building itself.

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